Recent Population Trends of Mountain Goats in the Olympic Mountains, Washington

Mountain goat populations in Washington's Olympic Mountains have shown the first signs of growth since population control measures were halted in 1990, with a 4.9% annual increase observed between surveys conducted in 2004 and 2011. This study estimated a current population of approximately 344 mountain goats (±72) within a surveyed area, marking a notable shift from previous declines. Researchers attribute this growth, along with variations across western, eastern, and southern sections of the survey zone, to the variable influence of climate change on precipitation gradients in the region. The findings were derived from aerial surveys conducted over 39 sample units, accounting for detection biases, providing critical insights into the ecological dynamics of non-native species in protected areas like Olympic National Park.

Jenkins, K. J., Happe, P. J., Beirne, K. F., Hoffman, R. A., Griffin, P. C., Baccus, W. T., & Fieberg, J. (2012). Recent Population Trends of Mountain Goats in the Olympic Mountains, Washington. Northwest Science, 86(4), 264–275. https://doi.org/10.3955/046.086.0403